Trustee Todd Banducci put a motion on the table that would help with the hiring process with the college president. Leading to consternation by fellow trustees and president Swayne, trustee Mike Waggoner rescinded his second vote, leading the motion to not going anywhere.
The Board of Trustees had their special meeting Monday night. Though not at the regular location of the North Idaho College campus.
Trustee Todd Banducci brought a motion to the floor, placing approval of hiring decisions that would “help the board” work closely with the president. Banducci claimed the board had legal authority. Chair Greg McKenzie then interprets the motion as “hiring decisions” the board approves of.
“Yes, that would be accurate,” Banducci said in response.
After a tense response from the crowd, trustee Brad Corkill told the Chair that the “president runs the college.”
Corkill said that he, president Swayne, picks the staff and the board doesn’t get involved. The response by Corkill lead some to start cheering.
NIC president Nick Swayne then brought up that while State law might allow it, the accrediting committee would not see it that way, that while it is necessary to follow State law, it’s “insufficient to accomplish accreditation.”
Swayne said that if the motion passes, he guarantees NIC will lose accreditation. He goes on to mention that he has the authority, due to the contract and ruling by Judge Meyer, along with the requirement by the NWCCU.
Trustee Zimmerman raised her hand and Chair Greg McKenzie recognized her to speak. Zimmerman then criticized the board for not giving proper notice about the motion, feeling she was blindsided.
“That is not the way to do business in the public eye,” Zimmerman said.
After bringing up the training with the Attorney General’s office and supposedly doing research with Art Macomber in early December, asked Zimmerman if she would be comfortable with the agenda put forward, telling her he felt “very confident” and “fine” with the agenda.
Zimmerman then says she wants to get back to accreditation, telling the board Chair removing authorities and inserting themselves in college operations is “flatly against what the accrediting body told us it’s against accreditation and we will lose it.”
“We’re gonna lose accreditation if you take this action,” Zimmerman said with trustee Corkill agreeing with her.
McKenzie then recognizes himself, supposedly wanting to “work with Dr. Swayne.”
“There are things happening right now, the thing is there are board member concerns specifically related to, I don’t want to share right now,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie starts to talk about policy adherence, that the board needs to follow policy, stating it allows the board to address these concerns.
McKenzie said, claiming the board is “not getting into the operations” of NIC, and “not making recommendations.”
Due to some breakdown, the board Chair then calls for a recess, though not before someone yells out “these are our jobs and our livelihoods,” asking why the trustees are destroying the college.
After everyone returns, things were slightly calmer with the same back and forth some might come to expect, though less so than before.
In regard to the motion, Swayne told the board Chair he is interfering in the president’s hiring process. That they are creating “policy on the fly.”
“This is you inserting yourself,” Swayne said.
At this point, Chair McKenzie tries and fails going into executive session.
Trustee Banducci and president Swayne seem adamant in working together when Chair McKenzie slumped in his chair. McKenzie even claimed that no one cared about his concerns, worrying about the safety of a whistleblower.
Two silent protestors were also at the meeting standing in the back, holding signs. One sign claims a sitting Coeur d’Alene City council woman wants NIC to lose accreditation, supposedly.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Other notable occurrences at the meeting:
- Chair McKenzie brought to motion, then fails to censor trustee Brad Corkill, who said “I don’t pander to anybody,” and he released the report because he did “what his conscious told me to do.”
- Trustees in a unanimous decision decide to release the full Macomber report, with no redactions. Though pertaining to employee safety. Release would be the next day of the special meeting.
- Trustee Zimmerman was not able to get a vote to amend her agenda item.
- Swayne’s contract is “null and void,” due to a 3-2 decision. Zimmerman a no vote, said she can not vote for the motion “time barred” by Judge Meyer and did not want to vote yes that “is against the law.”
The meeting took place at the Kootenai County Administrative building.
Edit: Some grammatical error fixed and updated.
